When is someone going to give us a report on the State Convention?

[dflprincess]

n/t

[no name no slogan]

1. I've got some pictures from the Fri night Progressive Caucus mtg

I'll be posting those here soon.

Quite frankly, I've been a little to overwhelmed from the weekend to post much about it yet. I got some sort of bug and have been a little slow recovering. Maybe I'll post some comments from other people I've read, since they'd probably tell the story much better than I could anyway!

[Supormom]

2. Senator Edwards was awesome!

He had the crowd on their feet.
:bounce:

[myrna minx]

3. Thankfully MPR played his speech.

He was amazing. He sounded like a true blue Democrat. We have waited soooo long for someone to speak to US, the base, that I nearly cried.

[indigo32]

4. It was alot of fun

and I think it went very well. Still looking for the results of the Platform balloting on the web site. The progressive/peace groups, headed by the Kucinich supporters, were very organized. I was disappointed though...cuz it took a long time to get upgraded from alternate to delegate status.
John Edwards was excellent... touched on the many wonderful themes he used in the primaries.
Mark Dayton was pissed LOL.
There was an effort to change the name of the state party from DFL... that was squashed like a bug.
I went with the Kucinich people to choose National Delegates, so didn't see or hear what happened with the Kerry delegation, though I certainly had my preferences there. I think we chose a good group for Kucinich.

[scarletwoman]

6. Hey, indigo32!

I was one of the people who ran for national delegate at the Kucinich caucus. (I was the one who gave the "old hippie" speech.)

I wish there had been some way to identify you, the only DUer I already knew was "no name no slogan".

It WAS a little rough getting the alternate/delegate upgrades together. I was the chair of our Pine County delegation, and I did my best to stay on top of it, but two of our alternates had wandered off before I could let them know they were upgraded. (one turned up on Sunday, anyway)

I'm on the incoming State Central Committee Platform Commission, and I intend to fight like mad to make the next convention's platform resolution process go better than this one did. Can't wait for our first meeting!

Please feel free to pm me, maybe you could describe yourself -- for all I know, I might remember having seen you at the Kucinich subcaucus!

sw

[no name no slogan]

9. The upgrade process-- what a JOKE

NO backups for the computer crashing, PLUS the A/V on the floor ALSO goes down for 15 minutes (unfortunately, it did NOT happen during the last unnecessary 15 minutes of Mike Hatch's speech). What a MESS.

It almost made me start a "no on #70" movement on the platform voting. Ach!!!

[scarletwoman]

12. *sigh* In a perfect world....

Yeah, things were definitely rough in spots. I guess I must be more pollyanna-ish than I thought -- I was so stoked about being there at all that I kinda blanked out some of the worst stuff. I totally forgot about the a/v meltdown.

All I can say is, it all just makes me even more determined to work my way up into being a party insider. :D

sw

[dpbrown]

15. You're going to make a great "insider"

As are so many of our fine folk around here and in our MN4DK group.

;-)

And now Progressive Caucus is just getting started.

We have only just begun.

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[scarletwoman]

20. Hey Dan!

I was sorry to find that you weren't there!

First thing I did online today was to access the new Progressive Caucus website and get signed up. In case others are interested, here's the link: http://www.progressivecaucus.net/index.asp

I am REALLY interested in being involved in this! (Btw, are you one of the organizers?)

As you said, we've only just begun! :bounce:

sw

[dpbrown]

21. Glad you signed up!

I am one of the organizers in Minnesota.

We're riding the wave of progressive caucuses being set up throughout the nation, although in our case we are working to organize the progressives who got elected to positions in the DFL as well.

As an outside organization, the Minnesota Progressive Caucus will be able to take positions on issues and raise money. The inside organization we are working to establish will give its members the status of a DFL "club" like the Feminist Caucus and Stonewall Caucus.

We think that a two-part strategy will give us the most flexibility and effectiveness to work with our neighbors, do teach-ins, and organize public demonstrations - or to engage in any of the other work necessary to move public opinion. At the same time, we will have an energizing base that can support and remain connected to the new DFL members that just got elected, keeping energy levels high and setting the stage to capitalize on upcoming DFL elections in two years to make the DFL even more responsive to the progressive ideas our neighbors will be promoting by then.

We will continue to be focused "like a laser beam" on energizing progressive politics in Minnesota toward transformational change.

Courage, Minnesota!

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[indigo32]

17. Hey Scarletwoman

sorry I missed you and No Name No Slogan too. I remember the "old hippie" speech :)

[no name no slogan]

19. You may have caught me....

did you go to the friday night event? I was the guy running the sound and playing the guitar. My partner was the one hitting everybody up for $2 for a "no right turn" button. I was also up near the front for the convention training on Saturday morning-- I was the lout who started the "Red Means Yes-- Yellow Means No" chant for the signs.

But strangely enough, I managed to stay out of most of the pictures of the day....hmmmm....maybe I'm really an FBI plant after all? :o

[scarletwoman]

5. Sorry, like "no name no slogan" I got home feeling a little sick as well.

:P

Plus, Monday I had to drive my youngest son to the airport (he's spending 2 months in Alaska with his older brother), and Tuesday it was back to work. I just haven't much time (or energy) to really process this past weekend.

Short version: It was FANTASTIC! I totally had a blast!

My biggest disappointment was that we didn't get to finish going through all the platform resolutions. Out of the MANY amendments proposed -- but not brought to a vote -- the one that I was most unhappy about being skipped over was the one that was going to add a statement about the U.S. signing onto the ICC (International Criminal Court).

I WAS glad to see that an amendment proposing that the words "gun control" be substituted for the less hot-button phrase "reasonable firearms policies" was voted down. The substitution was supported by the "Progressive-Peace" block, but as a rural resident, I could not in good conscience support it -- it was the only vote in which I differed with that particular caucus. I thought it was strategically stupid to vote for using a wording ("gun control") that plays right into the hands of the pro-gun hysterics.

GREAT speeches -- Mark Dayton is on a ROLL! He had given a real rouser at the 8th CD Convention on May 1, but his speech at the State Convention was absolutely stunning! As Indigo32 said, "he was PISSED!" However, it wasn't the anger that was important, it was the content and clarity of the message -- saying straight out that the bushies are destroying this country -- no holds barred. It was extremely powerful!

Edwards was definitely ON! I got the feeling that he himself was being energized by OUR energy. He was pretty much glowing, I'm sure this was a very happy stop for him -- talk about a receptive and appreciative audience!

Gosh, there's so much I could talk about! Paul Wellstone was invoked on several occasions, including by Edwards, I teared up every time and I know I wasn't alone. One of the impressions I got during the course of the convention is that NO one was feeling apologetic about being a "liberal". Maybe it's just me, but I didn't have any sense that the rank and file was looking for a way to "move right" -- to the contrary, this was a group of fired up people determined to honor the root principles of the DFL, especially the "Labor" component.

This was my first state convention as a delegate -- as it was for 2/3 of the people there! Maybe the fact that so many people new to the process were there is what gave the convention its energy and uncompromising "liberal" tone. The overall feeling was that WE have the power to turn this country around -- that WE who value peace and justice are the true conscience of the country, and the only viable way forward into the future.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Miscellaneous other notes:

The Peace in the Precincts/Progressive block was VERY well organized. It was very heartening.

My State Repersentative, Bill Hilty (district 8A) won election as the "PLEO" delegate (Kucinich) to the national convention. This is so COOL! He and his wife are good friends of mine, and his wife, Laurie, had already been elected as a national delegate for Kucinich at our 8th CD convention. I ran for national delegate (Kucinich) also, but did not get elected -- which is actually okay, because I really wasn't sure that I could afford the time off work and the expense. I'll be donating all I can for Bill and Laurie (and the other Kucinich delegates, of course) -- which will be easier to afford than putting up the money for my own trip to the national convention.

Mark Dayton's party at the Depot on Saturday night was totally AWESOME! I'm sure I had too much wine, but I got a train ride, did a little dancing, and had many fascinating (if slightly drunken) conversations with alot of different people.

I hooked up with "no name no slogan" at the Friday night Kucinich reception, and we exchanged pleasantries at various times throughout the convention. (I think I talked with him at Dayton's Depot party, but it's a little fuzzy... ;-) ) He was the only DUer I already knew from previous meetings -- wish I had known Indigo32 was there, and how to recognize her. Oh well...

Our 8th CD chair, the marvelous Kerry Gauthier, was elected as a national delegate in the Edwards subcaucus. I'm really happy about that, he's an absolutely wonderful, hardworking DFLer.

I am SOOOOOOOO lucky living up here in the 8th District! Over the last two years, I've met so many inspiring people, and we are ALL hard-core progressives up here! One of our delegates, Thom Peterson, is a big organizer for the Farmers Union -- I am so proud to be in the company of such fine DFLers! The fantastic Becky Lourey is my state Senator, Bill Hilty, Kucinich delegate, is my state Representative, and Jim Oberstar is our Congressman -- he gave a rousing speech at the convention also.

The Kucinich subcaucus had some truly impressive people, I felt honored to be in such company, and I'm really proud of the people who won election as national delegates -- very, very fine folks. In keeping with Dennis' support of IRV, we utilized IRV in our delegate election process. It made for a very satisfying voting process, imho.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In summary; the DFL is alive and well, and filled with good-hearted, dedicated activists committed to making our world a decent place for the generations that will follow us. A VERY inspiring weekend!

sw

[dflprincess]

7. Sounds like it was great I wish I'd been there

but I had a family thing on the 22nd so I didn't even try to get elected a delegate. I haven't been to a state convention since 1980 and this is the first time in a long time I would have liked to go.

Fortunately, I caught some of it on MPR including Dayton's speech. Between that and the speech he made on the floor of the senate I'd say he is indeed pissed and isn't going to pull any punches...I hope he keeps it up. Given his response to Normie's criticism of his senate speech I'd say he's ready to declare war on Coleman.

I'm glad to hear that the new delegates aren't pulling the party to the right. For years we've been told that all us hacks that have been around forever are out of touch with the electorate and the reason no one new gets involved is that we're perceived as "too liberal". HAH! 2/3 of the delegates were new to the process and, I guess, they're too liberal too. In my senate district I was impressed that all the new people who showed up were pretty well spread over the age spectrum so I'm assuming it is also safe to assume that the new folks who showed weren't just "starry eyed college kids" (as I was once accused of being many years ago).

Let me guess, the move to change the party's name came from the metro area? There's a person in my district who keeps pushing it. Her reasons are 1) new people in the state don't know what DFL is (this was shot down by someone who's lived here only 5 years who told her he figured it out) 2) Farmers vote Republican and 3) Not very many people belong to unions. I've tried to convince her that, if part of your compensation is not in stock options, you're labor - even if you're not in a union and work in cube.

[scarletwoman]

8. Wish you could have been there, too!

Since it was my first convention I have nothing to compare it to, but it sure was a great time!

As for the name-change amendment -- I wish I had kept the papers. Whoever it was had printed up a 2-page flier with a long written argument about why the "FL" part of DFL needed to go, that was distributed to every table in the hall. I skimmed through it briefly, but set it aside as other business was happening and I don't remember much about it.

I *think* there was a guy's name attached to it, but it was a woman who went to the microphone on Sunday morning complaining about it not having been brought before the convention yet. It DID come out of the cities, that much was clear.

It was pretty ironic, given all the labor union presence at the convention -- both in speeches and bodies. The Teamsters union provided all the sergeants-at-arms at the convention, and there was a major pro-union film presentation on Saturday, just before Edward's speech.

Basically, the convention voted to adjourn on Saturday before the issue was allowed on the floor. Then on Sunday, the agenda specified that the national delegate selection process was the first order of business. That's when the woman got up to complain. Mike Erlandson replied that AFTER the delegate process, the convention would take up new business, and that's when she could propose the amendment.

Well (heh heh), by the time the delegate elections were finished and the subcaucuses had reconvened in the main hall, lots of people had already left. Jackie (can't think of her last name, but she's an old DFL warhorse and perennial DNC delegate -- re-elected again this year) got up to the mic and made a motion to adjourn since there was no longer a quorum present. And that was that. :evilgrin:

I was a teensy bit disappointed, to tell the truth. I had been preparing a rip-roaring speech against the name change in my head all morning. Like pointing out the packed hall full of enthusiastic delegates and asking, "Does THIS look like a party with an identity crisis?!?"

My more experienced friends informed me that this same thing came up 4 years ago, with much the same result. All the old-timers assured me that there's NO way that a name change vote would pass. They were all pretty much shrugging it off on Saturday, and of course by Sunday, it became clear that it was being blown off altogether.

So maybe a few suburbanites have their knickers in a twist -- but it seemed clear to me that the DFL is going to STAY the DFL, because the great majority of DFLers fully intend to keep it that way. :bounce:

sw


p.s. -- yeah, all those "peace in the precincts' folks were obviously "too liberal". Funny how just about ALL their resolutions made it up through the caucuses and local party unit conventions all the way to state convention.... And then there were all those cheers and standing ovations everytime someone spoke about bringing the troops home... :D

[no name no slogan]

10. The DFL was the party of my great-grandfather.....

.....who used to run for Mpls city council on occassion back in the 1930s, and there is NO WAY IN HELL that they will EVER change that name EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I believe that this happens every two years at the convention, and comes from the same few people in St. Louis Park (a fairly DFL-ish Mpls suburb, too). And, of course, every year it goes down to defeat.

I myself LIKE the name DFL. It makes us unique. It also reflects the union between the Democrats and the more radical Farmer-Labor party in the 30s, who were once the 2nd party in this state (most people agree the Dems merging with the F-L party saved it from extinction in the 1930s). IMHO that's also part of the reason we have the strong progressive streak in the party, too: it's part of our history, part of our vision, and part of our name, too.

LONG LIVE THE DFL!

:toast:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. Did you see what Lori Sturdevant wrote in last Sunday's Strib?

"The DFL embrace of Wetterling may say more about her unique assets than about the party's direction.

"Then again, the DFL Party that is assembling in Duluth this weekend isn't the same outfit that picked John Marty for governor in 1994 -- or even Paul Wellstone for U.S. Senate in 2002.

"Two-thirds of this year's 2,700 delegates and alternates are attending either their first state convention or their first in a long time. Most of them "got political" not to push narrow agendas, but to pull this country back to the middle."


http://www.startribune.com/stories/562/4789372.html

Yeah, that's exactly the impression I get from the personal accounts--NOT.

[dflprincess]

13. Of course, given the direction of the country

even a move to the middle would be a move to the left

[scarletwoman]

14. Well, to go "back to the middle", the only direction to go IS left!

Not the party that picked Wellstone, eh? She must have missed the long, loud standing ovation that erupted during Edward's speech when he mentioned Wellstone. I know I was not the only one in tears, there were eyes glistening all around me.

I think Lori's article is okay, though. Maybe it will help so-called "moderates" feel safer about voting DFL. They don't have to know that we're still a bunch of quasi-socialists at heart! :evilgrin:

sw

[indigo32]

16. LOLOL

got involved to move the party back into the middle. I don't think so.

[no name no slogan]

18. Was Lori at the same convention?

What I saw was a crowd ON FIRE when Dayton proposed getting out of Iraq in months. What I witnessed was a crowd of new delegates getting inspired by John Marty's and Will Steger's anti-war speeches.
What I saw was that a progressive voting block, made up of newly active progressives from EVERY campaign, caring more about issues that matter to PROGRESSIVES than ideology, or "electability".

Come to think of it, I NEVER saw her there-- and I was frequently by the back of the floor, where the press was hanging.

Sounds to me like she covered it by mail, quite frankly. :D